Over the past few weeks, cocoa prices have jumped to reach unprecedent levels. On the first episode of the Next Africa podcast, Bloomberg's Jennifer Zabasajja and Mumbi Gitau look into the reasons behind the surge and what it means for African farmers, the chocolate industry and the consumers. 

Over the past few weeks, cocoa prices have jumped to reach unprecedent levels. On the first episode of the Next Africa podcast, Bloomberg's Jennifer Zabasajja and Mumbi Gitau look into the reasons behind the surge and what it means for African farmers, the chocolate industry and the consumers.

Next Africa is a weekly podcast about where Africa is going and why it matters to everyone.

Each episode tells a story from the continent and follows it through real life, business, politics and culture. From electricity and climate to jobs, migration, technology, sport and music, the podcast looks at the forces shaping daily life and how those changes connect to the wider world.

The show covers challenges and breakthroughs side by side. It explains the impact of energy shortages and climate risk, but also the rise of new industries, creative economies and young entrepreneurs. Stories are reported on the ground and told with clarity, combining data, context and lived experience.

Hosted by Jennifer Zabasajja and built on original journalism from reporters on the ground, Next Africa puts local voices at the centre of the story, delivering clear, factual reporting without cliché or assumption.

Whether you live on the continent or want to better understand a region shaping the future, Next Africa offers insight, perspective and stories worth listening to.

Next Africa is a weekly podcast about where Africa is going and why it matters to everyone.
Each episode tells a story from the continent and follows it through real life, business, politics and culture. From electricity and climate to jobs, migration, technology, sport and music, the podcast looks at the forces shaping daily life and how those changes connect to the wider world.
The show covers challenges and breakthroughs side by side. It explains the impact of energy shortages and climate risk, but also the rise of new industries, creative economies and young entrepreneurs. Stories are reported on the ground and told with clarity, combining data, context and lived experience.
Hosted by Jennifer Zabasajja and built on original journalism from reporters on the ground, Next Africa puts local voices at the centre of the story, delivering clear, factual reporting without clich&eacute; or assumption.
Whether you live on the continent or want to better understand a region shaping the future, Next Africa offers insight, perspective and stories worth listening to.

Inside the stories shaping the world’s fastest-growing continent.

Next Africa

Why Are Chocolate Prices Going Up And Up And Up?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0a4fae4d-d873-4c27-b387-b14d00983560/transcript

Nigeria's stock market is the world's best-performing equity market this year. Its benchmark index has outpaced every major market, including South Korea, delivering the highest dollar returns to investors.

Ghana, Tunisia and Kenya have also ranked among the world's top-performing markets, as economic reforms and improving investor sentiment fuel a rally across parts of the continent.

On this week's Next Africa podcast, we explore what's driving Africa's stock market surge, whether the rally can last, and what it means for investors.

Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by Bloomberg's emerging markets reporter Ray Ndlovu and Peter Nalitolela, chief executive officer of the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange. She also speaks to Emre Akcakmak, Head of Frontier Markets at East Capital, on whether Africa's resurgence is attracting global investors.

For more stories from the region, Subscribe to the Next Africa podcast

Nigeria's stock market is the world's best-performing equity market this year. Its benchmark index has outpaced every major market, including South Korea, delivering the highest dollar returns to investors.
Ghana, Tunisia and Kenya have also ranked among the world's top-performing markets, as economic reforms and improving investor sentiment fuel a rally across parts of the continent.
On this week's Next Africa podcast, we explore what's driving Africa's stock market surge, whether the rally can last, and what it means for investors.
Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by Bloomberg's emerging markets reporter Ray Ndlovu and Peter Nalitolela, chief executive officer of the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange. She also speaks to Emre Akcakmak, Head of Frontier Markets at East Capital, on whether Africa's resurgence is attracting global investors.
For more stories from the region, Subscribe to the <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/next-africa">Next Africa podcast</a>

Why African Stocks Are Beating the World

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8aec695e-0635-4c82-aff7-b49700db7587/transcript

Eighteen months after the Trump administration shut down USAID, a painstaking Bloomberg investigation into abandoned water projects in Kenya using interviews, satellite imagery and data analysis has revealed the stark consequences of that decision.

On this week’s Next Africa podcast, Bloomberg’s Senior East Africa reporter, Simon Marks, discusses his findings. Former East Africa USAID director Amanda Robertson then explains what happened when they found out their projects had to be halted immediately.

Get the full story here: Trump's Chaotic USAID Cuts Unleashed Floods, Disease and Poverty

For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter.

Eighteen months after the Trump administration shut down USAID, a painstaking Bloomberg investigation into abandoned water projects in Kenya using interviews, satellite imagery and data analysis has revealed the stark consequences of that decision.
On this week&rsquo;s Next Africa podcast, Bloomberg&rsquo;s Senior East Africa reporter, Simon Marks, discusses his findings. Former East Africa USAID director Amanda Robertson then explains what happened when they found out their projects had to be halted immediately. Get the full story here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2026-usaid-water-projects-trump-cuts/?srnd=homepage-africa" data-link-index="2" data-component="story-link">Trump's Chaotic USAID Cuts Unleashed Floods, Disease and Poverty</a>
For more stories from the region, subscribe to the <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/next-africa">Next Africa newsletter</a>.

How USAID Cuts Caused Floods in Kenya

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/de04dc7e-1822-4552-9cfb-b49000e82071/transcript

Flying has never been easier. Airlines are competing to offer cheaper fares and more routes across Europe, North America and Asia. But while connections to and from Africa have expanded, travelling within the continent remains difficult and expensive.

On this week's Next Africa podcast, Ghana-based reporter Bilal Qureshi discusses his latest feature on why intra-African air travel continues to lag behind the rest of the world. Bloomberg Global Aviation Editor Benedikt Kammel also explains the challenges facing Africa's fragmented aviation sector — and what it will take to make flying across the continent easier and more affordable.

For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter

Flying has never been easier. Airlines are competing to offer cheaper fares and more routes across Europe, North America and Asia. But while connections to and from Africa have expanded, travelling within the continent remains difficult and expensive.
On this week's Next Africa podcast, Ghana-based reporter Bilal Qureshi discusses his latest feature on why <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-07-02/why-it-s-so-hard-to-fly-between-african-cities">intra-African air travel</a> continues to lag behind the rest of the world. Bloomberg Global Aviation Editor Benedikt Kammel also explains the challenges facing Africa's fragmented aviation sector &mdash; and what it will take to make flying across the continent easier and more affordable.
For more stories from the region, subscribe to the <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/next-africa">Next Africa newsletter</a>

Why It's Still So Hard to Fly Across Africa

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b13b7a9e-1d87-4682-94a5-b489011979e4/transcript

Why Are Chocolate Prices Going Up And Up And Up?

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